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Mount Oswald Student Accommodation

  • Location: Durham
  • Sector: Accommodation
  • Division: Regional Building, Engineering

We worked with Durham University to build a new student accommodation and teaching facilities on the Mount Oswald site.

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The development included a new home for the relocated John Snow College and a brand new facility called South College.

Together, the two colleges offer purpose-built, self-catering accommodation for 1,000 students. Each college has a unique look and feel with their own common rooms, support offices and café bar.

The project won two awards at the 2020 Student Accommodation Awards, including ‘University Halls of Residence of the Year Award and, recognising the great team work between the client, developer and supply chain ‘Collaboration of the Year’ Award.

At a glance...

£80m

Project value

Autumn 2020

Completion date

Durham University

Client

“We are delighted to be moving into the completed Mount Oswald development ready for the 2020/21 academic year.

“The project demonstrates our commitment to enhancing the student experience on offer here at Durham and its completion marks a key milestone in the delivery of our university strategy to be world-leading across research, education and the wider student experience.”

Jeremy Cook, pro-vice-chancellor at Durham University

The Mount Oswald site features a University Hub with a large events hall with capacity to seat 300 people, a gym, music practice rooms, a launderette, a faith and quiet room, a dance studio, a performance practice space and a Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA).The accommodation was provided in a cluster of flats and townhouses, with the townhouses delivered through traditional construction methods and the flats constructed using an innovative off-site system.

 We continued to work on the new college – the first to be built for Durham University in 14 years – throughout the COVID-19 pandemic while observing strict social distancing guidelines.

Mount Oswald Student Accommodation Zoom in
Mount Oswald Student Accommodation Zoom in
Mount Oswald Student Accommodation Zoom in
Mount Oswald Student Accommodation Zoom in

Awards

  • 2020 Student Accommodation Awards: University Halls of Residence of the Year Award
  • 2020 Student Accommodation Awards: Collaboration of the Year Award
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